Principal photography begins today on EuropaCorp and Relativity's comedic actioner Malavita directed by Luc Besson (Taken, Transporter) and starring Oscar-Winner Robert De Niro (Limitless, Heat), Oscar-Nominee Michelle Pfeiffer (Dark Shadows, People Like Us), Oscar-Winner Tommy Lee Jones (No Country For Old Men, Men in Black), Dianna Agron (Glee, I Am Number Four) and John D'Leo (The Wrestler, Wanderlust).
The darkly comedic action film Malavita is the story of the Manzonis, a notorious mafia family who gets relocated to Normandy, France under the witness protection program. While they do their best to fit in, old habits die hard and they soon find themselves handling things the “family” way.
Filming commenced in Normandy and will continue in France at La Cité du Cinéma, where the brand new Studios de Paris are located. Additional shooting will take place in New York. The film will bow in 2013 with Relativity handling US distribution as well as working with its foreign output partners on the film's release in the UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Spain, Greece, Thailand and CIS. EuropaCorp will take on distribution in France and handle international sales.
The script is adapted by Besson from the book Badfellas by author Tonino Benacquista. Virginie Besson-Silla (From Paris with Love) from EuropaCorp is producing. Relativity's Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter) is producing, while the studio's Tucker Tooley (Immortals) will executive produce.
